German train speeds to London at 200 mph.

German rail giant sends 200mph train into London on 'trial run' in bid to slash journey times to Europe

By RAY MASSEY
Last updated at 12:27 PM on 19th October 2010

A 200-mph German bullet train has crossed the Channel and rolled into Britain today from the nation most renowned for making its railways run on time.

The high-speed train from Deutsche Bahn was carrying out a slow-speed  'dry run' trial for a new direct cross-channel link between London's St Pancras station and Frankfurt in Germany, as well as Amsterdam in Holland, within three years.

Experts say the competition could also mean lower fares with a one way trip to Germany costing as little as £39 to £49.

The high-speed Deutshe Bahn ICE3 InterCity Express train at St Pancas International station this morning on its trial run

The German 'Inter City Express' train bearing the initial  letters 'ICE' adorned as a red, white and blue Union Flag, aims to replace passenger jets as the main transport to Germany's financial capital and the Rhineland from 2013.

Three services will run daily, and will also serve Brussels, Cologne and Rotterdam. The German company wants to run services direct between London and the continent three times a day.

Trains would leave London, travel to Brussels and then split.  One half of the train would go on to Amsterdam via Rotterdam, with the other half travelling to Frankfurt via Cologne. The trains would be capable of travelling at 200mph. 

It is the latest step in the plan to create high speed rail links across Britain and Europe - from Edinburgh to Madrid and Manchester to Marseilles.But while trains will hit 200mph on the Continent, tunnels on the UK side of the Channel mean high speed trains are restricted in many places to 140mph.

Launching the plan at St Pancras, Deutsche Bahn boss Dr Ruediger Grube who travelled with the train through the Channel Tunnel  said it marked ' a new era' of train travel adding:'Europe is becoming a small place.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1321787/German-rail-giant-Deutsche-Bahn-sends-200mph-ICE3-train-London.html#ixzz12o0Hyi00